Amede, T

Dejen, A

Gashaw, T

Wondimu, Y

Yimam, G

ICRISAT Open Access Repository

Contact:Dr Tilahun Amede (t.amede@cgiar.org)Address: ICRISAT-Ethiopia(c/o ILRI) PO. Box 5689, Addis AbabaConceptualization: Jemima Mandapati, Strategic Marketing and Communication, ICRISATPhotos: ICRISAT Design: Pavan ArtsACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe are grateful for the support extended for the impact assessment by:• Woreilu Woreda Administration• Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources• 013, 014 and 015 Kebele Administrators• Development Agents of the kebelesWe extend our sincere gratitude to the  Yewol watershed community who contributed their time, experiences and stories.We thank staff members of Wollo University for their involvement and support.This work was undertaken as part of FunderPartnersCitation: Tilahun Amede, Asmare Dejen, Tadesse Gashaw and Getachew Yimam. 2019. Inspiration from Yewol for all of us. ICRISAT Policy Brief 14INSPIRATION FROM YEWOLPolicy Brief 14FOR ALL OF USWE WORKED TOGETHEROur land is scattered. If we work individually, we cannot get there. Even the office of agriculture can’t get there. Each of us contributed 60 days to build these structures on our farms and on those of our neighbors.ALI AHMED | a farmerfrom woreillu DISTRICTI am from Ethiopia and want to see my country prosper. Watershed management is a very complex agenda. It requires multiple players and multiple skills. So I talked to as many people as possible, finding others who also had a vision and cared about the people and the environment.”DR TILAHUN AMEDE |  ICRISATYOU CANNOT DO IT ALONEAlmost every initiative that has  come to the watershed has been beneficial. But not everyone has benefitted. There are also  possibilities to scale this approach  out to other sites.DERIB HASSAN |  DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR FOR WOREILLOOTHERS ARE STILL WAITINGHow communities joined hands to replenish the ecosystem that belongs to themSaving the soilTerracing and contour ditches prevented soil erosion and increased recharge of groundwater7,500 hectares6,250 birr*60 days 5 foldScientifically tested solutions ensured effectiveness and sustainability. Local byelaws were framed to support solutionsof work was contributed by each farmer for building terraces and other structuresincrease in irrigable land Grass pea cultivation decreases with increased water availability and cultivation of market- oriented cropsMobilizing the community1526 7 8 93 4Capturing rainwaterDug wells and farm ponds upstream for harvesting rainwater.  Increased river flow downstreamBest agronomic practices and access to quality seed helped conserve the soil and get more yieldsRevitalizing the soil78Current Yield (Qt/ha) 17 16 15117 7 678949513WheatBarelyFaba Bean LentilGrass peaField peaTeffFenugreekBaseline Yield (Qt/ha) i.e. the entire watershed area was terraced by thecommunity as part of the government’s Safety NetProgram with technical support from ICRISATGrowing new cropsCrop diversity increased by growing new and profitable cropswas the average income of young farmers in the potato cooperative. 5,140 birrThe project distributed crossbreed bulls and rams, and recruited artificial insemination experts23646219 6556 316Sold the Animals(DestockingBought Feedfrom otherplaceGave them to someone on profit sharingDid NothingTook OtherMeasuresLivestock innovationsForming farmer cooperatives improved farmers’ bargaining power Shift towards. market-oriented cropsRising adoption of high-value crops: Apple, carrot, chickpea and spices. Food security crops: Potatoes  Market accessReliance on food aidClimate resilience and  improved livelihoodsBetter adaptive capacity results in better incomesIntervention groupChange in 5 years82% 51%53% 92%Improved food securityControl group Allocated additional budget for further scaling up/out    Started interventions of the same kind and showed interest to scale-up/out  Incorporated it into the Productivity Safety Net program (PSNP) Upscaling avenues Influence on policy makersProject success caught the attention of higher officials, decision makers and regional administrators including the president of Amhara regional state. Concrete actions taken by concerned institutions include: The Way the Project empowered Female and Male FarmersEnsured financial independenceHelped me send children to schoolHelped me acquire livelihood assetsGave me the knowhow to start businessHelped me improve food security30%44%4% 9%13%56%11%33%Mechanism to save livestock from the effect of drought (% of households)per annum earned from agroforestry products>17 new cropvarieties were introduced including potatoes, garlic, carrots, apples, etcIntervention groupControl group* 1 birr=0.035 US$WHAT WAS DONE At a time when the people were struggling with the situation, a watershed initiative was started by concerned local researchers with the support of the government. The project brought in the needed change among communities to join hands and work together to replenish the dwindling resources of their homeland, Yewol, which in Amharic means ‘for all of us’!WHAT HAPPENED Five years ago, communities in the dry highlands of the Yewol mountains found it difficult to grow even their staple crops. In the rainy season, rainwater gushed down the slopes eroding the soil. Free grazing of cattle and unreliable rain affected the productivity so much that crops began to dwindle along with their livestock.  Migration was the only way out for some.  Food shortage stalked the residents and it still is a reality for some. HOW IT WAS DONEContact:Dr Tilahun Amede (t.amede@cgiar.org)Address: ICRISAT-Ethiopia(c/o ILRI) PO. Box 5689, Addis AbabaConceptualization: Jemima Mandapati, Strategic Marketing and Communication, ICRISATPhotos: ICRISAT Design: Pavan ArtsACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe are grateful for the support extended for the impact assessment by:• Woreilu Woreda Administration• Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources• 013, 014 and 015 Kebele Administrators• Development Agents of the kebelesWe extend our sincere gratitude to the  Yewol watershed community who contributed their time, experiences and stories.We thank staff members of Wollo University for their involvement and support.This work was undertaken as part of FunderPartnersCitation: Tilahun Amede, Asmare Dejen, Yidnekachew Wondimu, Tadesse Gashaw and Getachew Yimam. 2019. Inspiration from Yewol for all of us. ICRISAT Policy Brief 14INSPIRATION FROM YEWOLPolicy Brief 14FOR ALL OF USWE WORKED TOGETHEROur land is scattered. If we workindividually, we cannot get there.Even the office of agriculture can’t get there. Each of us contributed 60 days tobuild these structures on ourfarms and on those of our neighbors.ALI AHMED | a farmerfrom woreillu DISTRICTI am from Ethiopia and want to see mycountry prosper. Watershed management is a very complex agenda. It requires multipleplayers and multiple skills. So I talked to as many people as possible, finding others who also had a vision and cared about the people and theenvironment.”DR TILAHUN AMEDE | ICRISATYOU CANNOT DO IT ALONEAlmost every initiative that has come to the watershed hasbeen beneficial. But not everyone has benefitted. There are also possibilities to scale this approachout to other sites.DERIB HASSAN |  DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR FOR WOREILLOOTHERS ARE STILL WAITING

Inspiration from Yewol for all of us, ICRISAT Policy Brief 14

http://oar.icrisat.org/11264/1/Yewol%20watershed%20flyer_1.pdf

Inspiration from Yewol for all of us, ICRISAT Policy Brief 14

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

ICRISAT Open Access Repository